Drawing Near to God: Removing the Barrier
Background
Conquest of Canaan Map
Joshua 1 to 6
- The Israelites were to conquer Canaan, the Promised land west of the Jordan. The success of the Israelites’ military campaign depended on one thing: that God be with them. We learned last time that obedience to God leads to more signs from God (i.e. His Presence)
- Signs of God’s presence: crossing of the Jordan, God in corporeal form (commander of the Lord’s army), the Fall of Jericho
- Israelites' acts of obedience: following the “procedure” to cross the Jordan, circumcision, observing the Passover, following the attack strategy at Jericho.
Tonight we will look at an example of disobedience and the effect it had on the relationship with God.
[Josh 5:13 - 6:5, Josh 6:17-18]
Can someone summarize the event at Jericho? What was God’s order given to the Israelites regarding the things and inhabitants of Jericho?
Read chapter 7
[Josh 7:1, 7:21]
What did Achan do? Can you list the "devoted things"?
- Achan took some of the devoted things for himself
- items include a beautiful robe from Babylonia,two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels
[Josh 7:2-5]
What happened at the City of Ai?
- spies were sent to assess the City of Ai
- 3000 men were sent but Israel was soundly defeated
- 36 men were killed in action
[Josh 7:6-9]
After the defeat, Joshua reacted with great despair. What did he do in his despair? Do you think the reaction was justified? How do you respond to setbacks in life?
- Joshua prostrated himself before God and expressed his frustration to Him.
[Josh 7:10-11]
God tells Joshua to stop sulking and explains the reason for their defeat. List the infractions.
- Israel has sinned, they violated my covenant, they have stolen, they have lied
[Josh 7:12]
- The passage tells us God will not be with us unless we are obedient to Him.
[Josh 7:13-15]
God instructs the people to consecrate themselves. Joshua swiftly carried out God’s command out early the next day. What does it mean to consecrate and why is it necessary?
- They also had to consecrate themselves some time before (before crossing the Jordan, because they were about to witness God's work)
- The people need to be purified as instructed by Mosiac Law after the congregation sinned. This is required to “reconnect” with God. Sin creates a barrier between God and people.
[Josh 7:16-18]
The Achan (Hebrew meaning “troublemaker”) was singled out.
Side question: How was Achan singled out? Perhaps through the use of the Urim and Thummim. Good background info at the following webpage.
[Josh 7:19]
Joshua was very gentle in engaging Achan to understand what had happened. What kind of attitude or actions should we take toward a brother/sister if we notice that he/she is not living according to biblical principles?
- Reference Gal 6:1-3
1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
[Josh 7:20-21]
Achan “saw” the devoted things, “coveted them” and “took them”. Here we see how the eyes lust for things then led to actual sin. In our society, materialism and consumerism is so rampant. We are enticed with “buying things we don’t need, spending money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” How are we faring in this aspect of our life?
*** Was there an instance where your greed tempted you to do things that God would not have been pleased with?
[Josh 7:22-26]
Unfortunately Joshua and the Israelite had to severely punished Achan as directed by God in verse 15. Interestingly, the punishment echoes the commitment the Israelites made prior to crossing the Jordan (Josh 1:16-18) But what was so wrong about taking those thing? Achan only sinned, why was the community held accountable?
- It's stealing from God. God had asked the Israelites to leave those things for him.
The Achan’s punishment was severe and it also led to the destruction of his family and belongings. Do you think the punishment was proportionate to the sin?
(Optional: God does not use the same method to punish us for our sins today. But what is the similarity between Achan's situation and ours today? = sin has a consequence.)
- The concept of destroying everything connected to one person, Achan, may be hard to understand given the often preached concepts that God is love and merciful. God seems to contradict himself. However, the bible also tells us that God is holy and also maintains law and order. There is a consequence to every sin (e.g. Gen 2:16-17). Achan’s sin was likely not the only sin within the camp, but it was a direct and open violation of God’s command which resulted in the death of 36 fellow Israelites.
- As a lesson, we should remember that personal sin can have broad effects on family and the body of Christ. Some will say that my sins are between God and I which is true, but this passage tells that there could also be unseen effects. We must be diligent and swift in addressing the sins in our life just as Joshua did.
- In addition, setbacks in life could be a sign of sin. Before explaining away or trying to overcome setbacks, take a moment to reflect upon your life and actions to see if there are any areas of your life that needs to be purified. Ps 139:23-24
- We are assured in in 1 John 1:9 that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The sin will be forgiven but there still could be consequences. For example, 2 Sam 12 tells us about Nathan the prophet confronting David regarding Bathsheba. The consequence is described in verses 13 to 15.
How can we as a fellowship support each other in living a holy life specifically in dealing with our sins?
- James 5:16 tells us that we should “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed”. Jesus has also empowered us to forgive the sins of our brothers and sisters through His name (John 20:23 “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven…”) So, we have been given the privilege and authority to bear the burden of each other’s sins.
Why is it then we are so challenged to carry out this responsibility in our fellowship and church?
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian that died in a WWII concentration camp, offers his insights:
The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!
(Bonhoeffer, Dietrich (2012-06-20). Life Together (Kindle Locations 1311-1313))
Confession in the presence of a brother is the profoundest kind of humiliation. It hurts, it cuts a man down, it is a dreadful blow to pride. To stand there before a brother as a sinner is an ignominy that is almost unbearable. In the confession of concrete sins the old man dies a painful, shameful death before the eyes of a brother. Because this humiliation is so hard we continually scheme to evade confessing to a brother.
(Bonhoeffer, Dietrich (2012-06-20). Life Together (Kindle Locations 1356-1358))
- Bonhoeffer goes on to suggest that confession need only happen between two Christians and the presence of the entire congregation is not required. What makes a hearer of confession worthy is based not on life experience, but experience of the Cross. We need to exercise discretion and wisdom when seeking an appropriate brother/sister to confide in.
What are your thoughts on Bonhoeffer’s points above?
The conclusion of the Battle of Ai
Read Josh 8
Summary of the Josh 8:1-29
- Quick summary: God was again with the Israelites once they dealt with their sin and God ensured their victory over Ai.
- God gave them a strategy to ambush the Ai army.
- The entire Israeli army was mobilised this time.
- The Israeli army was divided into 3 parties: the ambush party consisting of 30,000 men that was stationed to the west of Ai, a party of 5,000 men that was stationed between Bethel and Ai to prevent reinforcements, and the main army situated to the north of Ai that was to be used as a decoy
- The main Israeli army used a hit and run tactic to lure Ai’s army out of the city
- Once the city was vacated, the ambush party attacked the city and set it on fire.
- The Ai army was surrounded and destroyed.
- The entire population of Ai consisting of 12,000 men and women was killed.
- The Israelites were allowed to keep the plunder this time.
- The message: after dealing with their sin, God was with Israel again and ensured their victory against Ai.
Read Josh 8:30-35
Do recall what does verse 34 reference to?
- It is a review of Deutoronomic History. See Deut 30:19. The blessings and curses contained within the Law are set before. We should heed Moses reminder to the Israelites that is to "choose life". This choice has to be made daily.
Bible Study Conclusion
Summary points
- To draw near to God we must remove the barrier (sin) from our life. Although obedience doesn’t guarantee God’s presence, it puts us in a spot where God can draw near to us. James 4:8.
- sin leads to negative impacts to the person and those around.
- We can humbly come to God and our fellow brother/sister to confess our sins and start afresh through the shed blood of Jesus.
- We should reflect upon our life and see if there areas that we need to realign with biblical teachings. Now is a good time to do so for 2014.
- In closing, we can pray on a regularly basis like the tax collector in Jesus’s parable (Luke 18:13), “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” and like David in Ps 51:10-12, “ Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
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